Economist Dr Lauren Johnston examines the evolving political and economic relationships between China and Africa, and how the East Asia giant is adapting its own model of aid, trade and investment to grow regional African markets and economies while securing a rising supply of energy and mineral resources for itself

According to Dr Johnston, “selective African countries ... will produce a very large workforce share of population which, at the moment at least, offers relatively cheap wages, just the way China’s population did 20, 30 years ago.”

She adds: “Now you see Chinese companies thinking: is it time to think about repeating that model elsewhere in cheaper frontiers and economic frontiers of tomorrow, as China was 30 years ago?

“You may be buying your clothes with a ‘made in Ethiopia’ label in 10 years’ time rather than a ‘made in China’ label.”

Episode recorded: 24 April 2017

Up Close producer: Kelvin Param Audio engineer: Gavin Nebauer Banner image: Kurious/Pixabay

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